Urgent steps must be taken to end Syrian humanitarian crisis

The international community must act now
to end the suffering of millions of Syrian civilians, many
of whom are at risk of starvation and face severe shortages
of medical care and adequate shelter, said Amnesty
International ahead of a UN donor conference in Kuwait this
week.

“The world’s response to the Syria crisis so
far has been woefully inadequate. At the end of 2013 the UN
humanitarian appeal - the largest in the organization’s
history - was just 70 per cent funded. This meant that vital
aid was cut off to some of the most vulnerable victims of
Syria’s brutal conflict who were left to face the bitter
winter months with minimal resources,” said Philip Luther,
Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at
Amnesty International.

Although some countries have made
generous financial contributions, others including the
United Arab Emirates, one of the wealthiest countries within
the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), made promises on aid
that failed to fully materialize. Russia, which has shown
significant political interest in the Syrian crisis, has
only made minimal contributions to the humanitarian effort.

“The world cannot repeat the mistakes of last year.
Offers of assistance will make no difference if that help
fails to arrive. This year world powers, particularly those
with the financial means to do so, must ensure that the
promises they make are kept. The donor conference offers
world leaders a chance to prove they have not abandoned the
Syrian people,” said Philip Luther.

The organization
is urging world leaders to significantly step up their
efforts at the conference on Wednesday 15 January, which
aims to raise money for the US$6.5 billion humanitarian
appeal, in order to provide vital assistance to those worst
affected by the conflict.

The continuing violence in
Syria has sparked one of the biggest humanitarian crises in
recent history.

Among those worst affected are those
living inside Syria, including 6.5 million who are
internally displaced. Many remain stranded in areas under
blockade by government forces. They face severe food
shortages and are dying of starvation. Outside Syria, those
who have fled to neighbouring countries also face tough
conditions in poorly resourced refugee camps.

As well as
urging countries to fund the humanitarian appeal for Syria,
Amnesty International is calling on the Syrian government to
lift blockades on the civilian population in opposition held
towns and areas. Both the Syrian government and armed
opposition groups must allow humanitarian organizations and
agencies unfettered access to assist the civilian
population.

Amnesty International is calling on states to
make a concerted effort to resettle some of the most
vulnerable refugees.

So far international efforts to
resettle refugees have been pitiful. European Union member
states have pledged to resettle just 0.5 per cent of the 2.3
million people who have fled the country.

The record of
GCC states on this issue is equally dire: not one of them
has offered a single resettlement place to refugees from
Syria. Countries further afield, including Russia, have also
failed to accept any refugees through resettlement or
humanitarian admission programmes.

“At present many of
those displaced by the conflict either inside or outside the
country - through no fault of their own - are simply not
receiving the help that they need. The international
community must step up its efforts on all fronts to prove it
has not forgotten about them,” said Philip Luther.

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